Question : Pollution by NTPC Power Plants

(a) whether there has been a study conducted by the Center for Science and Environment which revealed that the NTPC power plants are currently functioning way below the prescribed standards and performing poorly across various pollution parameters;

(b) if so, the details thereof as well as the Government''s reaction thereto;

(c) whether the NTPC has any plans to shut down the Badarpur plant which according to the study has been rated the most polluting and contributing a meagre amount to the power consumption of Delhi;

(d) if so, the details thereof, and if not, the detailed reasons therefor; and

(e) the details of actual emissions by various power plants under NTPC along with the prescribed standards and parameters for each of them?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER,
COAL, NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND MINES

( SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL )

(a) & (b) : The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report, published in 2015, presents an assessment of 47 power plants in the country, including only six power plants of NTPC.

In the report, the average score of coal and lignite based thermal power sector was 23%. Four of the projects of NTPC were rated above average while two of the projects were rated below average and NTPC has already improved the position by implementing Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) upgradation.

(c) & (d) : Badarpur Thermal Power Station is a part of one of the islanding schemes of Delhi, which was prepared after the Northern Region Grid failure in 2012. This Station can be closed if an alternative to this islanding scheme is ready. One of the key elements required is to make ready a 400 KV sub-station at Tughlakabad, for which land has been recently provided by Delhi Development Authority. It is understood that the sub-station will be ready in about 20-24 months.

(e): The details of actual emissions by the various power plants of NTPC along with the prescribed standards and parameters is given at Annex.

***************